Serve the Lord with the gifts He gives you.

 

Sermon for Trinity 9, August 2, 2026

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

1 Corinthians 12:1-7, 28-31  Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.  ²You know that when you were pagans, you were deceived and somehow led away to mute idols.  ³Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by God’s Spirit says, “A curse be upon Jesus,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.  ⁴There are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  ⁵There are various kinds of service, and yet the same Lord.  ⁶There are various kinds of activity, but the same God, who produces all of them in everyone.  ⁷Each person is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. …  ²⁸And God appointed in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then miracles, healing gifts, helpful acts, leadership abilities, kinds of tongues.  ²⁹Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Are all miracle workers?  ³⁰Do all have healing gifts?  Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret?  ³¹But eagerly seek the greater gifts.  And now, I am going to show you a more excellent way. (EHV)

Serve the Lord with the gifts He gives you.

Dear fellow redeemed,

            Last Sunday, we spoke about the Office of the Keys and how the Church is given the keys to heaven through the proclamation of the gospel and the forgiveness of sins.  Sometimes, however, it is imagined that this work is solely the responsibility of the pastors of the Church.  In our text, Paul demonstrates that the Office of the Keys is part and parcel of every believer’s call, though certainly we do have different aspects to the work depending on the gifts, talents, and calling given to each of us individually.  Therefore, we will say, Serve the Lord with the gifts He gives you.

It is apparent from this letter to the congregation in Corinth that much division had crept into the picture.  Different factions had developed that were tending to pull the congregation apart.  This type of divisive attitude has certainly afflicted Christianity to this day with so many divisions among what should be one Christian Church.  Still, even at a local congregational level, hierarchies and cliques can become a cancerous problem.  At Corinth, some had grown conceited concerning certain gifts of the Spirit with which they had been endowed.  There is evidence of such arrogance in our day as well.

Paul introduced this section by saying, “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed.  You know that when you were pagans, you were deceived and somehow led away to mute idols.”  Paul identified the problem in our sinful nature.  By nature, we don’t have gifts of the Holy Spirit.  By nature, we are lost and condemned creatures who serve only our selfish selves and the kidnapper who misled mankind into sin.  Therefore, not knowing God, man tried to satisfy that need for God with human inventions, but we were all deceived by the devil’s lies.

Then, while speaking to the believers in Corinth, Paul could rightly conclude that the Spirit had been at work there in the preaching about Jesus they had heard.  However, some of those Corinthians had arrogantly assumed to have made those decisions themselves, while others claimed allegiance to one teacher or another as more profitable for the soul.  Speaking on behalf of fellow pastors, we each certainly have our strengths and weaknesses that some may find attractive or annoying.  Yet, no one is ever brought into the Christian faith by the person speaking.  Rather, it is the Holy Spirit, who indeed has sent these various men, who has the power to rescue sinners from their condemnation.

Paul wrote, Therefore I am informing you that no one speaking by God’s Spirit says, “A curse be upon Jesus,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.  There are various kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit.  We believe that the Holy Spirit places His servants into congregations to serve those congregations to the best of the abilities He gives, but also that the congregations should recognize the power behind the called servants.  Now, ideally, none of us frail human pastors would ever do anything that would cause offense, but we too are sinners who need forgiveness for our faults, weaknesses, and imperfections.

Thus, the first main point of our text is to recognize that it is the Holy Spirit who gives the gifts, talents, and especially the call to serve.  We indeed must repent of our sins whenever we might assume to question the Spirit’s decisions.

Now, right along with this arrogant tendency to view one man as better than another, there is another weakness that can afflict us into thinking we either have no gift of service to share with others or that there is no need for the service we could give.  For such false imaginations we must also repent.  When the Holy Spirit draws us by faith into the congregation of the Christian Church, He also blesses us with some part in the assembly.  The Church is often described in the Scriptures as one body of Christ.  And just like your physical body, each part has its own function and responsibility.

We read again, “There are various kinds of service, and yet the same Lord.  There are various kinds of activity, but the same God, who produces all of them in everyone.  Each person is given a manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”  Obviously, the office of the keys is not limited to just the pastors, or to just the pastors, apostles, and teachers.  Every individual believer has a part in the body of Christ which God uses to reach out to the lost souls of earth.  This is where we each must look inwardly and diagnose whether we have served faithfully according to the riches of God’s grace in ourselves.  Have we applied ourselves diligently to the roles the Holy Spirit has given us?  Have we answered the call when He assigns us a part in the proclamation of the Gospel and forgiving others?

Paul then asks a series of rhetorical questions designed to teach us that every good gift comes from the Holy Spirit and is intended to be a blessing for the Church at large.  In the Greek, each of the following questions is actually a negative question implying that the expected answer is emphatically no!  Paul wrote, “God appointed in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then miracles, healing gifts, helpful acts, leadership abilities, kinds of tongues.  Are all apostles?  Are all prophets?  Are all teachers?  Are all miracle workers?  Do all have healing gifts?  Do all speak in tongues?  Do all interpret?”  The point is that all of these things and people are a gift of God to the church, but does that make one better or more useful than another?  No!  Not in the kingdom of heaven for in Christ’s kingdom each part makes its perfect contribution.

Compare it to the physical body.  A toe would make a terrible eye, and an eye would be a lousy finger, but while doing the part they are created to do, they each serve marvelously.  The same is true for you and me in the Church.  If we desire to serve the Church only in ways we might assume more honorable, we likely will serve far less faithfully than the Spirit plans.  Likewise, if we consider one or another type of service more highly than others around us, we dishonor the Spirit who has called each of us into the Church of our Savior, Jesus.  None of us does everything well.  However, the Holy Spirit can and does use each of us for the purpose He intends in reaching the lost with the Holy Gospel.  Therefore, Paul explains, “Though we are many, we are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.  We have different gifts, according to the grace God has given us.  If the gift is prophecy, do it in complete agreement with the faith.  If it is serving, then serve.  If it is teaching, then teach.  If it is encouraging, then encourage.  If it is contributing, be generous.  If it is leadership, be diligent.  If it is showing mercy, do it cheerfully.” (Romans 12:5-8)

Paul then encourages each of us to “eagerly seek the greater gifts.”  What are the greater gifts?  Well, I believe that the greatest gift of the Holy Spirit is the faith that believes in Jesus Christ as Savior and Redeemer of the world.  Another greater gift is the Word of our God.  We should therefore seek to learn and understand it more and more.  An incomparable gift given to us is the forgiveness of sins, and how awesome it is that we are gifted the opportunities to share that forgiveness with others.

Our theme this morning is Serve the Lord with the gifts He gives you.  As we examine ourselves rightly against the demands of the law, we see how far short of perfection we fall.  At the same time, we have the gift of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus.  Jesus alone lived perfect service to God and to His Church.  Jesus alone suffered and died for the sins of the world.  Only Jesus came down from heaven perfectly holy and in line with the will of the Father above, so only Jesus could bear our sins and failures to the cross. 

However, Jesus has already accomplished this for you and me.  Our Lord and Savior has now called, invited, and encouraged us to proclaim His peace to the world.  Not all of us are pastors.  Not all of us will be missionaries or teachers.  Yet, as members of the body of Christ Jesus here on earth, we each can and should faithfully employ the gifts the Spirit gives us.  Thank God the Spirit enables those He calls with the gifts needed for our individual calls.

Dear friends, Jesus suffered and died to give you life.  On that cross of shame, Jesus delivered you from prosecution for any sin you may have ever committed.  At the same time, by covering you with His righteousness in the cleansing water and Word of Baptism, Jesus has presented you to His Father in heaven as a workman of righteousness.  Likewise, with His body and blood in the bread and wine of the Supper, Jesus feeds and empowers you with the forgiveness of sins, thus confirming for you that you have the key that opens heaven.

Do not be afraid.  Do not be ashamed of the gospel.  Its power gives you life and hope.  God’s grace makes that message of forgiveness and peace an unlimited resource for you to give life and hope to others.  Sometimes, we do that personally face to face.  Sometimes, we use our gifts to uphold the efforts of others who serve.  Often, that means we do the little things: changing the diapers, growing the crops, shoveling the snow, cleaning the floors, offering a friendly smile or greeting, caring for the poor, or opening up our treasure store so that the Word may be spread.  Always, God uses us, who hope in His love against all opposition, as shining lights to the world, making us beacons of hope to draw the meek and sorrowful out of this world’s darkness of death into the Light of our Savior. 

May God be with you who Serve the Lord with the gifts He gives you.  Amen.

Now, may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.  The Lord be with you all.  Amen.

Peace to you sends peace to the world.

 

Sermon for Trinity 8, July 26, 2026

Mercy and peace to you all, for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.  Amen.

John 20:19-23  ¹⁹On the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were together behind locked doors because of their fear of the Jews.  Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you!”  ²⁰After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.  So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.  ²¹Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you!  Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.”  ²²After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  ²³Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven.  Whenever you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (EHV)

Peace to you sends peace to the world.

Dear brothers and sister of the living Lord,

            Peace to you.  That is the literal translation of what Jesus declared to His disciples that night.  That is also the reason you are here at this worship service this morning.  You are here because of the peace Jesus won for you and the peace God in heaven wants you to enjoy.  Along with that, Peace to you sends peace to the world.

Why did you come to church today?  I suspect there are about as wide a variety of superficial reasons as there are people.  Some, especially the little ones, are here because their parents brought them.  Perhaps you came out of habit.  Maybe you felt guilty and hope for relief.  Some of you might be here because someone else invited you.  Others might come to church because they feel that is God’s command that must be obeyed.  The arrogant might attend to show how good they look.

The reality, though, is that no matter why you think you are here, you are here because God wants to share His peace with you.  Now, He doesn’t trick anyone into coming, but God does work, sometimes in mysterious ways, to ensure that the forgiveness and salvation won for the world by the life and death of His Son, Jesus, doesn’t go for naught.  The Holy Spirit clearly stated through the hand of St. Paul that “God our Savior, ^… wants all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:3-4)  Our natural flesh on the other hand, isn’t always interested in the truth.

As we continue our review of the catechism this year, we have reached the section on the Office of the Keys.  Martin Luther wrote, What is the Office of the Keys?  He answers, “The Office of the Keys is the special authority which Christ has given to His Church on earth: to forgive the sins of penitent sinners, but to retain the sins of the impenitent as long as they do not repent.”  Where is this written?  The evangelist writes, After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven.  Whenever you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” (John 20:22-23)  This is called the office of the keys, because the message is the key that opens the doorway to heaven to all who believe.

Speaking to the prophet, Isaiah, “the Lord said: ‘It is too small a thing that you should just be my servant to raise up only the tribes of Jacob and to restore the ones I have preserved in Israel, so I will appoint you to be a light for the nations, so that my salvation will be known to the end of the earth.’” (Isaiah 49:6)  It was never God’s intention that His Son would rescue only a certain people, or a certain kind of people, from the curse of sin and the darkness of the devil’s lies.  Jesus likewise declared, “God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17)

When mankind was caught in the despair of death under the devil’s control, no person could ever have imagined God suffering and dying to cover our guilt.  Much of the world today remains in the delusion that if there is a god he is far away and not too concerned about the conditions of man.  However, nothing could be further from the truth.  That Sunday night after suffering crucifixion, death, and burial, Jesus returned to His disciples to declare the truth of His victory over sin, death, and the devil.  Satan was no longer in control of the fates of mankind.

The disciples reacted much like we might have reacted to such startling news.  They had watched Jesus be arrested by a crowd of soldiers.  They knew the details of the sham trial that declared Jesus guilty and worthy of death.  They saw the cruelty of the Jewish leaders who condemned Jesus solely because of their jealousy.  The saw the brutality of the Roman soldiers as they beat, whipped, and otherwise abused their beloved Friend and Lord so they hid themselves in fear.  From their hiding spots and the reports of those who were at Calvary, they knew Jesus had been nailed to the cross.  They knew He died.  They knew the spear had pierced His side.  Just like the soldiers who pierced Jesus’ side, the disciples knew Jesus was dead, and they “knew” people don’t come back to life after being dead and buried.  So, they hid in such fear and despair that it took a lot to change their minds.

Many in our world still doubt that Jesus rose from the dead.  Yet, as St, Paul wrote, “If Christ has not been raised, our preaching is pointless, and your faith is pointless too.” (1 Corinthians 15:14)  On the other hand, this is why Peace to you sends peace to the world.  Risen from the dead and eternally alive, Jesus declared to those scared, weak, trembling disciples that His sacrifice had accomplished the forgiveness of the world.  All of their doubts and fears were paid for; all their sins removed; their reconciliation with God had been accomplished, and it was then that Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you!”  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.  So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.”

We usually think of Pentecost as the beginning of the Christian Church, but we could just as well say this is the beginning.  That night, in a room locked to the outside world, Jesus stood among those who had walked with Him for three years and had seen Him suffer and die, and He declared, “Peace be with you!”  It is the most beautiful message that anyone could ever share.  God is at peace with mankind.  God is at peace with you, with all of you.  Jesus paid the full penalty of death for your sins.  He paid for the sins of the whole world.  Therefore, Jesus’ death and resurrection is the end of condemnation for all those who will believe in Him.  But, “How can they believe in one about whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without a preacher?  And how can they preach unless they are sent?  Just as it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news of peace, who preach the gospel of good things!’” (Romans 10:14-15)

As Jesus declared peace with His disciples, He was also instituting the pastoral office.  Because God loves us, and because Jesus has won forgiveness for the world, God wants everyone to hear and believe.  Consequently, Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you!  Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.”  After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” 

We need to recognize the transformation that peace made among those disciples.  Where in the immediate aftermath of Jesus’ suffering and death, they went into hiding for fear of the Jews, after His resurrection and this announcement of peace, they spent the rest of their lives telling the world about Jesus and all He had done to set us free from the curse of sin.  It is one of the reasons we can be confident in the message of the gospel.  It changed the lives of all who heard and believed it. 

Those men, though frail, weak, and timid as they may have been, went out telling the world what they had seen and heard.  Jesus appointed them as His apostles of peace to the world.  But, like all mortal men, their time on earth came to an end, so the Holy Spirit moved them to appoint overseers, elders, pastors, and teachers to continue the work until the end of time.  Speaking of Jesus, Paul wrote, “He himself gave the apostles, as well as the prophets, as well as the evangelists, as well as the pastors and teachers, for the purpose of training the saints for the work of serving, in order to build up the body of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:11-12) 

Jesus still calls pastors and teachers to spread the Gospel.  As you listen to His message of forgiveness and peace, perhaps He is calling you into the public ministry.  The need is still great for young men to enter that service and young women to train as teachers of the little ones.  And even if that call never comes to you to preach and teach, we all have the call to serve and assist the Body of Christ in whatever fashion and with whatever gifts God gives us.  To parents God says about His words of peace, “Teach them diligently to your children, and speak about them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:7) 

To all of us Jesus encourages, “Let your light shine in people’s presence, so that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)  And the Holy Spirit through Peter tells us, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give a reason for the hope that is in you.” (1 Peter 3:15)

All of this, dear friends, is why I can say that you are here today in this worship service because “Peace to you” changed your life.  No longer are you trying to hide from God, for having heard the message of the Gospel you now know His peace.  Someone the Holy Spirit sent into your life told you about Jesus.  Someone told you that your sins are forgiven.  Maybe it was your parents first.  Perhaps it was a Sunday school teacher or a friend, or maybe even just someone passing through your life.  However, all of that began that night in the upper room as Jesus declared to His disciples, “Peace to you.”

At one time, our guilt was an awful burden to bear as we too were in hiding from our enemies and from the God who loves us.  However, all that hiding ended when the peace of Jesus was applied to us in the hearing of His forgiveness and the pouring of the water and Word over us in Baptism.  Today, set free from the devil’s lies and accusations, set free from the curse of sin by the sacrifice Jesus made, we again hear Jesus say through His called pastor, “Peace be with you.”  To every repentant sinner, it is my call to say to you in Jesus’ stead, “Peace be with you.”  Your sins are forgiven for Jesus’ sake.  The gates of heaven have been opened for you and for all who will believe.  “The promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:39)  Peace to you sends peace to the world.  Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Amen.

Baptism=Putting on the full armor of God.

 

Sermon for Trinity 7, July 19, 2026

To all those loved by God…called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Ephesians 6:10-18  ¹⁰Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  ¹¹Put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand against the schemes of the Devil.  ¹²For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  ¹³For this reason, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to take a stand on the evil day and, after you have done everything, to stand.  ¹⁴Stand, then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness fastened in place, ¹⁵and with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace tied to your feet like sandals.  ¹⁶At all times hold up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the Evil One.  ¹⁷Also take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  ¹⁸At every opportunity, pray in the Spirit with every kind of prayer and petition.  Stay alert for the same reason, always persevering in your intercession for all the saints. (EHV)

Baptism=Putting on the full armor of God.

Dear fellow redeemed,

            Imagine yourself going into battle against the forces of a modern superpower such as the United States, China, or Russia, with all its soldiers, tanks, heat-seeking missiles, armor penetrating bullets, and even atomic weapons at its disposal, but the only weapon in your hand is a tennis racket.  Just one basically unarmed person against thousands of soldiers equipped with all the powerful, laser-focused modern weapons.  It doesn’t seem like a fair fight at all, does it?

A teenage boy once entered such a battle.  King Saul finally relented and allowed young David to go up, nearly unarmed, against the most fearsome military weapon of their time.  To the Israelites looking on, it seemed like a total mismatch.  Most of them likely didn’t even see that David carried a sling.  However, David wasn’t unarmed, but rather, Goliath was the one without any protection.  You see, David was armed with faith in the Almighty God, and he possessed the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit.  It was a complete mismatch, but in David’s favor, and Goliath fell dead at his feet.

You and I don’t have to fight nine or ten-foot-tall giants, but we do face many extremely powerful enemies determined to destroy us, along with our children and all the rest of the people we love.  We face forces of evil that are intent on separating us from the love of God and keeping us enslaved under the control of the devil and his allies.  Indeed, “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”  The prince of this world, the devil, seems to have all the advantage.  However, we are not left defenseless because God blesses us in the spiritual realms with Baptism=Putting on the full armor of God.

When Paul wrote this letter, the picture of a Roman soldier fully equipped for battle was a common site, and every person would have immediately recognized the picture.  However, in those ancient times, everyone understood that in a battle, women and children would be totally defenseless if the soldiers protecting them should fall.  You and I, on the other hand, are given defenses that work for anyone who believes.  Baptism equips every person on whom God puts His name with equal status in the battle.  We don’t have to rely on our strength or ability to reason or fight.  Just like David against Goliath, it is the Almighty God of Israel who has conquered our foes.

Paul wrote, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God, so that you can stand against the schemes of the Devil.”  Apart from the promises of God’s Word, we have no way to resist the devil with his lies and accusations.  Without faith in Christ Jesus, what defense could we raise when the devil calls us liars, thieves, and murderers?  All of us, in one way or another, have violated every commandment Almighty God has given.  We all have lusted after things or people that are not ours.  We all have questioned the earthly authorities put in power over us: our parents, grandparents, police, and political rulers.  I dare say we all have even questioned God.

If we should be left to stand on our own, who among men could withstand those flaming arrows aimed directly into our hearts?  Without a defender, we would have much less chance than the soldiers of Custer’s last stand.  Every accusation against us would send us straight to hell.  Every baby born into this world would be destined to the fires of eternal torment. 

But oh, what great joy is ours!  Our Savior has not left us defenseless.  When Jesus instituted baptism, He was giving us a gift of immeasurable worth, for in baptism our Lord dresses us in His perfect holiness and obedience to God’s will.  In baptism, the Holy Spirit shields our hearts from all accusations because Jesus paid the full and lasting penalty of death for all our sins, and in the water and Word of baptism, He washes us clean.  In baptism, God the Father puts His name, His seal of ownership, on the head of every child (whatever the age) upon which the water and Word of God’s grace is poured.  In baptism, God dresses us from head to toe in everything we need so that the devil can have no power over us.  In fact, in baptism, God credits us with the righteousness Jesus lived.  Thus, Baptism=Putting on the full armor of God.

Now, if you can imagine a Roman soldier dressing his young child in the armor of a soldier, we could all understand that as that child grew, he would need to keep rearming and updating his equipment for the day at hand.  Likewise, we too value the training that education in God’s Word gives.  The faithful Christian parent doesn’t stop with baptism alone, but shares the truths of Scripture so that the children also know the gift of God’s love and the sacrifice Jesus made to make His little ones holy in God’s eyes.  We keep that training and instruction going, not just until confirmation, but on throughout the child’s life, and even when they reach adulthood and our control seemingly disappears into the ether, we keep pleading and praying that God would continue to watch over the children and defend them from Satan’s deceptions and lies.

Likewise, every soldier going out to battle was continually diligent in keeping his equipment in top condition so that he would always be perfectly prepared to confront the enemy for his king.  Now, connect that with our spiritual life.  We too need to keep our armor in tip-top shape.  Not that we can do anything to improve God’s Word or promise, but we need to continue in His Word on a daily and weekly basis to remail fully prepared for the battles we face while we study “the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:15)

In that daily preparation, we return again and again to our baptisms.  That is what repentance is, a turning away from the distractions and evils of this world to trusting again in all God has given us.  At every worship service, we stand before the Lord and plead for His forgiveness and mercy.  We confess our sins in humble remorse for our failures.  Yet, that is hardly the end of the story.  For in every true repentance there is faith in God’s forgiveness, for His Son Jesus lived and died on our behalf.  And then we rejoice, knowing and hearing again and again of Jesus’ resurrection from the grave which signifies that His sacrifice really, truly did the job God had assigned to it which was to wipe away our guilt and bring us into the freedom of forgiveness and eternal peace with our Creator and God. 

Then, properly dressed for battle, “With the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness fastened in place, and with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace tied to your feet like sandals,” we can go boldly forth to face the world, confident in the forgiveness Christ has won for us, and rejoicing for the life the Holy Spirit has poured into us, ready to tell the demons they can have no power over us, and to share with friend and neighbor and sometimes enemies, the truth of all God has done for us and for them. 

Dear friends, so many people confuse church and religion as being some tedious duty that defies understanding or any reason to be involved.  Those troubled souls are stuck in the devil’s lies.  The only thing that can rescue them from that darkness is the Light of Jesus Christ.  We can preach law at them, and sometimes we must do so, but whenever a person is troubled by the trials and torments of this cruel world and the guilt that so surrounds us daily, the time is right to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all its power and glory.  We don’t have to stand on soapboxes and obnoxiously condemn our neighbors.  We need rather, to bring to them the milk of God’s Word so that even more of those whom God loved through the sacrifice of His Son may hear the testimony that brings life.

Sometimes, it may seem like there is nothing we can do to control the evil in this world, and nothing we can do when we are rejected and perhaps even cursed and despised for walking with Jesus.  It is at all those times, and really every other circumstance, as well, that we again give heed to Paul’s instruction, “At every opportunity, pray in the Spirit with every kind of prayer and petition.  Stay alert for the same reason, always persevering in your intercession for all the saints.”  We pray for friends and neighbors.  We pray for each other.  We give thanks to God for the forgiveness and life He brings, and pray for His protection, strength, and guidance.  We pray that God would give us opportunities to share His Word and baptism with many other hurting souls.  And again, we thank God that Baptism=Putting on the full armor of God.  Amen.

God will fully supply your every need, according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever!  Amen.

Baptism empowers living a new life.

 

Sermon for Trinity 6, July 12, 2026

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  He gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father—to whom be the glory forever and ever.  Amen.

Romans 6:3-11  ³Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  ⁴We were therefore buried with him by this baptism into his death, so that just as he was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too would also walk in a new life.  ⁵For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection.  ⁶We know that our old self was crucified with him, to make our sinful body powerless, so that we would not continue to serve sin.  ⁷For the person who has died has been declared free from sin.  ⁸And since we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  ⁹We know that since Christ has been raised from the dead, he will never die again.  Death no longer has control over him.  ¹⁰For the death he died, he died to sin once and for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God.  ¹¹In the same way also consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. (EHV)

Baptism empowers living a new life.

Dear friends in Christ,

            It all seems so counterintuitive, doesn’t it?  Being buried with someone is a good thing?  Being crucified will set us free?  Having died with Christ, we will live?  How can this be?

            St. Paul is responding to ideas that the Gospel will encourage immorality because it removes the threat of the Law.  What was misunderstood is that the law doesn’t actually instill good or faithful behavior.  Rather, the fear of condemnation, at best, results in only reluctant obedience rather than truly godly living.  For the Christian, however, it is not fear of condemnation that motivates the lifestyle we intend to live.  Instead, Paul explains, Baptism empowers living a new life.

Paul first addresses the consequences of sin.  He wrote, “Don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him by this baptism into his death.”  The condemnation of the law is what put Jesus on the cross.  He was punished in that cruel way because of our sin and the sins of the world.  Because we “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), Jesus paid the penalty of death required by the law for the world.  This is the ultimate demonstration of God’s love for us.  Though we deserved only death and eternal separation from God, His Son Jesus brought us back into peace with God.

You see, sin had always separated us from our God and Lord.  Inherited sin caused us to be eternally antagonistic toward God.  If not for God’s intervention, we would have no hope.  However, God sent Jesus to end that separation that had condemned us and the whole world.  For us, Jesus paid the full penalty required to set us free from the curse of sin, which is death.  Then, in further demonstration of God’s love for us, baptism is the way God has connected us with Christ.  Being baptized into Christ, we are no longer separated from God, either in life or death, because His death now covers us. 

At the same time, being now connected with Jesus in baptism, we are no longer dead to God.  The apostle wrote, “We were therefore buried with him by this baptism into his death, so that just as he was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too would also walk in a new life.  For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be united with him in the likeness of his resurrection.”  This is the most important sentence in human history.  Though Jesus died for the sins of the world, though He died on that cross as a consequence for all of our guilt, Jesus didn’t stay dead.  The Father in heaven has accepted Jesus’ sacrifice as the acceptable conclusion of our rebellious ways, for with all sin put on Jesus, we are counted clean of any guilt.

Before He went to the cross to suffer and die for you and me, Jesus told His disciples, “This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own.  I have the authority to lay it down, and I have the authority to take it up again.  This is the commission I received from my Father.” (John 10:17-18)  From the very beginning of time, it was God’s plan to rescue us from the dark ways the devil led mankind astray.  We had inherited a sinful nature from our parents.  We couldn’t fix the problem.  Worse yet, that sinful nature controlled our every thought, feeling, and action.  Satan had us by the throat and his accusations against us weighed us down with hopelessness and shame. 

However, when Jesus rose from the grave alive again on Easter morning, this message could ring out cross the world: “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For in Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)  True life was now restored in Jesus, and in baptism we are freed from the devil’s control while being connected to Christ, through whom Baptism empowers living a new life. 

The shame and hopelessness of our inherited sinful nature has been lifted from us.  Paul wrote, “We know that our old self was crucified with him, to make our sinful body powerless, so that we would not continue to serve sin.”  We know this only because the Holy Spirit has granted this knowledge to us through the power of His Word and baptism.  We also know that while we remain in this world, we still drag around the corpse of our old sinful nature, though that old nature has lost its power. 

Because Baptism empowers living a new life, no longer does our old nature control us.  Paul’s point is to ask why we would want to return to serving the dead things of the devil who will spend eternity in a prison prepared only for him and his followers?  No right thinking person would be willing to do that, “For the person who has died has been declared free from sin.  And since we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.”  In gratitude for having been set free from sin and death, the new man in us rejoices to walk in harmony with our Savior who is always living in holiness.  Because Christ has been raised from the dead and restored to His Father’s side in heaven, we too walk in the assurance of His promise, “Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19)  Connected to Jesus through baptism, we possess eternal life right now.  Yet, we wait for its ultimate fulfillment on Judgment Day.

“We know that since Christ has been raised from the dead, he will never die again.  Death no longer has control over him.”  Realize the ramifications of this statement.  Death has no control over Jesus.  Sin can never touch Jesus again.  He took ours upon Himself on the cross, and paid the ransom to set us free with His blood.  But never again.  The devil can no longer accuse.  Death’s threat has been destroyed by the open tomb on Easter morning.  That is the sure and certain proof that Jesus lives and His promise to us is most certainly true as well.

Through the washing and Word of baptism, we were cleansed of our sin and connected with Christ Jesus.  In this, we are also connected with the righteousness He lives.  As God has restored Jesus to life and placed all things under His authority, Jesus continues to live in perfect harmony with His Father’s will just as He did while walking this earth on our behalf.  Nothing about Jesus’ righteousness has changed, except that now we too walk in His holiness.  His Spirit then empowers us to resist the temptations of the devil, the world, and even our own sinful self, and when we stumble and fall, to repent of our weaknesses and return to His care.  Paul wrote, “For the death he died, he died to sin once and for all, but the life he lives, he lives to God.  In the same way also consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.”

Dear friends, this is the admonition of the Holy Spirit that we live our lives here on earth for the Savior who gave His life so that we might live.  Jesus once told His disciples, “I am the Vine; you are the branches.  The one who remains in me and I in him is the one who bears much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)  We live in farm country, so you all are well familiar with what a plant can produce if uprooted from the soil, or how much fruit a branch will bear if cut off from the main stem.  It all just withers and dies, producing nothing but fuel for a fire.  On the other hand, in our baptismal connection with Jesus, “We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Yes, that is why baptism is so life giving.  It connects us, who once were dead and useful only as fodder for the fires of hell, with the Living One who will never die again.  In Jesus, we are connected with the Son of God through whom all living things were given physical life.  He is the source of our spiritual life, and it is His everlasting life pulsing into us through the connection formed between Him and us in baptism that grants us life and empowers us to live more holy lives while here on earth. 

Dear friends, having been restored to eternal life in our baptisms, we are now enlivened and empowered to serve Him who rescued us from the dead.  We now live, not out of fear of punishment, but out of gratitude and true faith in the Savior who redeemed us and restored us to the realm of the truly living.  Then also, whenever you may stumble or fall short of the glory of God, return in repentance to the grace of baptism and receive again that life-giving power.  Therefore, rejoice now and for the rest of your life because Baptism empowers living a new life.  Amen.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit, both soul and body, be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.  Amen.

Baptism is the promise that blesses us.

 

Sermon for Trinity 5, July 5, 2026

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  By his great mercy he gave us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Amen.

Mark 16:16  ¹⁶ “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.” (EHV)

Acts 2:38-39  ³⁸Peter answered them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  ³⁹For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call. (EHV)

Baptism is the promise that blesses us.

Dear fellow redeemed,

            Whenever we have confirmations, it can be tempting to imagine that the confirmands are renewing vows they made at their baptisms.  Yet, in reality, it is God who made a promise to them, and the confirmands are confirming their faith in His promise and forgiveness.  This morning, we look at the blessings of Baptism, and we say that Baptism is the promise that blesses us.

In our Gospel text, St. Mark reveals Jesus’ promise that “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved.”  It is easy for the human nature to imagine (and throughout history many have taught) that this is a condition Jesus lays on the believer—that he must somehow come to faith and then be baptized in order to be saved.  However, other Scriptures make it clear that no one can come to believe in Jesus by his own power or effort.  Furthermore, it is only by God’s grace and election that any of us are brought into the Christian faith.

On the day of the first Pentecost of the Christian Church when God sent His Holy Spirit upon His apostles with flames of fire on their heads and the ability to speak in a multitude of languages, Peter preached law to a large crowd of Jewish believers at the temple in Jerusalem, and his preaching brought terror to their hearts for what they had done to Jesus in His crucifixion.  Those guilt-stricken men begged Jesus’ apostles, “Gentlemen, brothers, what should we do? (Acts 2:37)

Now, Peter’s answer sounds like he is giving instruction for the task at hand.  In contrast, however, he is inviting them to enter God’s mercy.  Peter answered them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  The command to repent is an invitation to turn around from trying to receive salvation through one’s own effort or goodness.  God is telling the sinner to change his mind, to give up on himself, and to trust in God’s mercy and kindness for the lost soul. 

This repentance doesn’t come to anyone naturally.  With our sinful nature, we are fully inclined to reject the accusation of sin, and to imagine ourselves less wicked and rebellious than we are.  This is why the Scriptures say that “No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:3)  This too is a gift of the Holy Spirit in Baptism, that He makes us aware that we need a Savior and empowers us to reach for Jesus to pull us up out of the muck and mire of sin.  When the reality of our guilt is revealed to us by the law, it finally drives us to despair of any goodness in ourselves.  Thus, the Spirit has us prepared to receive the grace of God that brings us faith in Jesus.

Last Sunday, we looked at Jesus’ conversation with Nicodemus, but to refresh our memories, we again hear Jesus say to that man, “Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God!  Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh.  Whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:5-6)  Jesus instructed Nicodemus concerning entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven.  Born of the flesh of our parents, we naturally inherit a sinful nature deserving condemnation.  Consequently, to enter into the glorious grace of heaven, we must be born from above.  This rebirth happens in Baptism. 

It is hard to imagine a greater gift of the Holy Spirit than to be reborn from above.  It is God the Holy Spirit giving new life to the formerly dead sinner and connecting that newborn with God through faith in Christ Jesus.  Recognizing God’s mercy in Baptism, we understand that many blessings are given through that marvelous work of the Holy Spirit.  In Baptism, God grants citizenship in His heavenly kingdom.  He gives forgiveness of sins for Jesus’ sake.  He grants to the believer life that does not end with physical death, and through the power of His Word, God gives us real comfort and a sure hope to carry us through any trial, struggle, hardship, loss, or pain.  Indeed, Baptism is the promise that blesses us.

In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul lamented his inability to live without sin, but he took comfort in the fact of forgiveness through faith in Jesus Christ.  Through Jesus’ life and especially by His death on the cross, our sins were removed from us, and the just penalty for our guilt was paid for with the sacrifice Jesus made.  Then, in Baptism, we are cleansed of all our guilt, so that the psalmist could exult, “Yes, as high as the heavens are above the earth, so powerful is his mercy toward those who fear him.  As distant as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our rebellious acts from us.” (Psalm 103:11-12)  This led St. Paul to write in consideration of this divine cleansing of our souls, “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For in Christ Jesus, the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.” (Romans 8:1-2)

As you may well have experienced, there are many in this world who imagine that the gifts of the Spirit here promised are the miraculous extraordinary abilities the Spirit granted to those apostles: the ability to speak in previously unfamiliar languages, to heal the sick miraculously, and to endure snake bites, flames, and other such torments.  Those unique powers were given to the apostles foremost to show their connection with Jesus.  Yet, those miraculous sings were not guaranteed to continue.  Indeed, the evangelists give no record of any of those signs continuing after the apostles were called out of this world.

But faith remains.  As does love and caring and kindness to strangers.  This really is God’s promise to all who believe, that His gift of the Spirit will change us.  It removes our stone-dead sinful, unbelieving hearts and grants us a living faith.  The gift of the Spirit moves us to have a sure and certain hope of everlasting life in heaven.  Whether we face blessings or hardship in this world, whether we have good health or approach the grave in sickness, we have a sure certainty that Jesus has prepared a place for us in His Father’s mansions and that He is working all things for our eternal good.  We remember His promise that He is with us, that He sends His  angels to protect and keep us, that the Father hears our prayers for Jesus’ sake, and that He knows our needs and provides for them before we even know what to ask.

We are baptized “in the name of Jesus Christ.”  What this also means is that we are baptized into the name of our Savior and Lord.  We are baptized into a connection with Him that cannot be broken by our guilt nor be stolen by the devil’s deceits and accusations.  In Baptism, God puts His name upon us as a seal of His love.  That doesn’t mean we can sin freely nor ignore the dangers the devil imposes.  Rather, it opens the door to return to our Lord in every repentance freely given. 

Being baptized into Jesus’ name makes us the equivalent of the Prodigal Son in Jesus’ parable.  Though we often sin much, and sometime quite gravely, the Father in heaven remains ready and willing to receive us when His Spirit brings us to our senses and draws us back home in repentance.  Though we then deserve only servitude, the Father welcomes the repentant soul back into His household in loving forgiveness.  Therefore, whether we are repenting in private, fellow sinner to fellow sinner, or in a general confession as in our worship services, God the Father is rejoicing with the hosts of heaven over every sinner who repents and returns to trust in His love.

Another gift the Holy Spirit gives us in Baptism is the blessed ability to share God’s forgiveness with others.  Peter explained, “For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call.”  God places no limits on His merciful kindness.  He puts no obstacles in the way for those He calls to believe.  When Jesus met with His disciples in the upper room, after His resurrection from the grave, “He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven.’” (John 20:22-23)  There is no age limit on either the upper or lower stage of life.  Infant baptism is equally as valid as a deathbed conversion and baptism. 

Every baptism relies on God’s mercy and grace, rather than in any merit or worthiness on the part of the person being baptized.  Baptism is God giving new life from above.  It is making the person a child of God, applying God’s name, and putting the Holy Spirit to work in that person’s life. 

What all this means is that through baptism, all of our sins are washed away and our guilt is forgiven.  It means we have peace with God.  We have His attention to our prayers.  Through the washing of water and the Word in baptism, we receive new life, new hope, new strength, and a new home in our Father’s eternal dwelling place.  In His peace, Baptism is the promise that blesses us.  Amen.

Now to him, who is able, according to the power that is at work within us, to do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!  Amen.

Baptism makes us God’s disciples and beloved children.

 

Sermon for Trinity 4, June 28, 2026

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort.  Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20  ¹⁸Jesus approached and spoke to them saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  ¹⁹Therefore go and gather disciples from all nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and by teaching them to keep all the instructions I have given you.  And surely I am with you always until the end of the age.” (EHV)

Baptism makes us God’s disciples and beloved children.

Dear beloved children of the heavenly Father,

            As we continue our walk through the Small Catechism, we come to the Sacrament of Baptism.  For the next couple Sunday’s we will examine various aspects of this sacred rite, and this morning’s reading leads us to the question, “What is Baptism?”  As I answer that question, my goal is to help you see that Baptism makes us God’s disciples and beloved children.

            In preaching on this text that is often called the Great Commission, it is somewhat common to emphasize the word, go!  What is always interesting to me is that the word translated that way is not a command.  Jesus emphasizes this work a little differently.  He has already told His disciples He was sending them out into the world.  He had warned them that they would face opposition and even danger, but also that He would send the Spirit to teach and empower them for the work.

Here, Jesus also promises that He will always be with those who proclaim His message.  Therefore, rather than just commanding them again to go, Jesus uses the interesting word that may most literally be translated, “Be discipleizing all the peoples.”  Now, I realize that we don’t have that word in English which is why you usually see it translated as make disciples, or here, gather disciples.  But the emphasis shows us not so much what we must do, but rather, what God will be doing through those He sends.  Nothing we are able to do will force someone to follow Jesus or to believe in Him.

Being a disciple means to follow a teacher so as to learn from that one as a mentor—to become a devotee of all he represents.  Therefore, to become a disciple of Christ requires the work of the Holy Spirit in us through the Gospel for “when the kindness and love of God our Savior toward mankind appeared, he saved us—not by righteous works that we did ourselves, but because of his mercy.  He saved us through the washing of rebirth and the renewal by the Holy Spirit.” (Titus 3:4-5)

Naturally, throughout history there have been numerous instances of charismatic teachers who drew students to themselves.  Some attracted huge followings.  Some began new religions.  So, what makes Jesus different?  Jesus did not come into the world just to be a teacher, to rule a political realm, or to achieve some earthly fame or fortune.  He didn’t walk this earth just to lead people to a more moral lifestyle.  Instead, Jesus came to reconcile us with God and to restore to mankind the relationship and peace with God that the Lord God had originally established when He first created man.

When God created Adam, that man had a perfect faith and trust in God.  Along with that faith and trust, Adam was truly alive and in fellowship with his Creator.  That harmonious life was lost as a consequence of Adam’s fall into sin.  Thus, as you have heard me report so often, no human could restore that peace.  After the fall, we couldn’t even discover on our own who God is.  The imaginations of mankind have run wild ever since Adam disobeyed.  Some imagine there is no god.  Others have looked at everything that troubles or blesses us, and desiring to ensure that the good things keep coming, they devised schemes and ceremonies to appease whatever deity they imagined is controlling all this, and don’t for a minute pretend that the devil didn’t have a hand in promoting those pagan deceits.

Still, though separated from mankind by the sins of the world, God was actively carrying out His plan to provide reconciliation with us.  Now that Jesus had fulfilled every part of the law and the prophets and accomplished that goal from the point of His Father in heaven, the result is that reconciliation, salvation, and forgiveness had to be distributed among the people of earth still struggling under the torment and control of Satan and his underlings.  The ransom price had been paid with Jesus’ blood and sacrifice.  Now, it is time to separate the victims from the forces of evil.

St. Paul, the apostle Jesus sent to the nations, taught, “Indeed, it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)  Since salvation is a gift, how or where does this saving faith come to us?  Remember, mankind’s natural condition: “You were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked when you followed the ways of this present world.  You were following the ruler of the domain of the air, the spirit now at work in the people who disobey.” (Ephesians 2:1-2)

Having been born in the condition of spiritual death and slavery under the devil’s deceitful control, we dwelled in the dark bondage of sin.  There are so many ways the Bible describes our horrible condition.  Israel’s slavery in Egypt is but another picture of our dreadful state of being.  We needed life and freedom and forgiveness of sins, but how to bring it to the people of the world?

That is where Baptism enters the picture.  Baptism is God’s chosen instrument to give us life in His eternal kingdom.  Early in His ministry, Jesus taught Nicodemus, “Amen, Amen, I tell you: Unless someone is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God!” (John 3:5)  As the Lord sent His apostles across the world, He was sending them out with the message of forgiveness and salvation that would bring people into His kingdom of grace.  Baptism is God giving rebirth from heaven. 

As Jesus told Nicodemus, “Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh.  Whatever is born of the Spirit is spirit.” (John 3:6)  The natural birth that brought us into the world gave us physical life, but that doesn’t include eternal life.  We needed that rebirth from God to enjoy His heavenly home. 

In the time of the apostles, a new baby was not considered part of the father’s household until that father accepted the child as his own.  They, of course, had no DNA test to verify whether the child was his, but legally, the Roman father could deny a child for any defect or any other reason.  The father could legally declare that disappointing child to be unwelcome in his house and set it out to die. 

We were all born with the defect of sin which made us naturally repulsive to God, so God had every right to condemn us all to the death of hell.  Yet, in His unlimited mercy and kindness through Baptism, God marks us as His own dear children.  In the Revelation given to St. John, the angels of destruction were commanded, “Do not harm the earth, the sea, or the trees until we have placed a seal on the foreheads of God’s servants.” (Revelation 7:3)

That picture is repeated several times in the Revelation showing God’s people marked with God’s name on their foreheads which applies very nicely to what we see in Jesus’ instruction to His apostles, “gather disciples from all nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and by teaching them to keep all the instructions I have given you.” 

We baptize in the name of the Triune God.  At the same time, God is baptizing us “into” His name.  In this act, God is claiming the sinner as His own beloved child made holy through the work and sacrifice and blood of His Son, Jesus.  Being baptized, we are no longer foreigners and aliens to God, because “The Father rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13-14)  Thus, through the faith Baptism gives, God makes us His people, dearly loved and precious in His sight.

That being said, we are kept in that saving faith through the hearing of God’s Word.  Now, some might debate whether saving faith comes through Baptism or through the hearing of the Gospel.  Others might argue that you have to make that decision to believe, but ultimately, it is whether God has claimed you as His own child that truly matters in His everlasting kingdom.  No person will ever enter heaven based on his own merit.  Jesus warned Nicodemus, “No one has ascended into heaven, except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.” (John 3:13)  Consequently, it is through our connection with Jesus through faith that we will enter heaven.  And, as you have heard before, “Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message comes through the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17)

At the time Jesus spoke the words of our text, the disciples were afraid they would never have Jesus in their lives anymore.  Yet, we have Jesus’ confirmation that through Baptism and the faith that His message of grace gives, Jesus is always with us.  As we keep His Word, that is to hold on to it in sincere faith, He says, “And surely I am with you always until the end of the age.”  Before going to the cross to suffer for your sins and mine, Jesus assured His worried disciple, “If anyone loves me, he will hold on to my word.  My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” (John 14:23)

Dear friends, through Baptism and the faith it brings, God the Father has counted you as His own dear child.  Baptism is your entrance into the kingdom of heaven and the mark that God has made you His own.  By the power of God the Holy Spirit in the Gospel, you are being prepared for life in His heaven, for “By his great mercy he gave us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, into an inheritance that is undying, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.  Through faith you are being protected by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed at the end of time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5)  No matter the circumstances in which you may find yourself in this life, take heart for Baptism makes us God’s disciples and beloved children.  Amen.

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his own blood and made us a kingdom and priests to God his Father—to him be the glory and the power forever.  Amen.